The Washington Times reported in November that Mr. Cassim of Woodbury, Minn., was arrested in April and charged under a 2012 cybercrimes law for uploading a video to the Web that poked fun at how young people in the region are fascinated by social media and hip-hop culture.

An English-language newspaper in the United Arab Emirates reported that Mr. Cassim was accused of defaming the UAE’s image abroad.

In December, he was sentenced to a year in prison and a fine of about $2,700, CNN reported.